The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 08, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 08, 1995
Eyal Lichtman, Woodbridge, NJ (US);
Linn Frederick Mollenauer, Colts Neck, NJ (US);
Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
An improved optical loop mirror is used in an optical demultiplexer to demultiplex time division multiplexed optical communications channels. High bit-rate optical pulses representing a plurality of time division multiplexed communications channels are input to a 3 dB coupler in an optical loop mirror. The coupler separates the high bit-rate optical pulses into two substantially equal high bit-rate pulse streams propagating in opposite directions around a loop of fiber in the mirror. Lower bit-rate optical switching pulses are injected into the loop so as to substantially coincide with selected pulses in the high bit-rate pulse stream corresponding to a communications channel to be demultiplexed from the plurality of multiplexed communications channels. A gain controlling element, such as an amplifier or a lossy element, in the loop changes the amplitude of one of the two high bit-rate pulse streams flowing in the loop so that the selectivity of the demultiplexer to the desired channel and the rejection of unwanted channels by the demultiplexer is enhanced.